Fearless predictions for Ole Miss on Signing Day

In the next 24 hours, high school football prospects from all over the country will sign National Letters of Intent and begin their career as college football players.

Ole Miss is hoping to sign between 27-29 players Wednesday. There will be someone the Rebels don’t land that everyone thought was coming, and there will be a surprise that goes Ole Miss’ way.

Here are my predictions for how the chips fall for Ole Miss’ biggest remaining targets:

Five-star defensive end Jeffery Simmons

Ole Miss has felt good about its chances to land Simmons for a while now, but Alabama and Mississippi State are also in the picture. Nothing is a guarantee in recruiting, but the Rebels seem to have all the momentum on their side.

Since five-star quarterback Shea Patterson and five-star offensive tackle Greg Little committed to Ole Miss, Simmons has been the top priority. The Rebels return talent along the defensive line, but they also lost a lot. Simmons would have an opportunity to get on the field in Year 1 and would be a big piece of the Ole Miss defensive line down the road if he picks the Rebels.

Prediction: Ole Miss

Five-star linebacker Mique Juarez

If you’re looking for a big surprise to go Ole Miss’ way, maybe it’s with Juarez. The Rebels have been in the thick of it for a while, but getting him out of California was always going to be the biggest task. Alabama got in the picture late as well, but the Rebels feel as if they are the option if he does leave Los Angeles.

Juarez would be a big get for any school, but Ole Miss lacks linebacker depth, which is a big draw for the 6-foot-1, 231-pounder. BYU is also in the mix, and the Cougars got his last official visit. However, the Bruins have to feel good about things heading into the signing day.

Prediction: UCLA

Four-star safety Deontay Anderson

Ole Miss has been the favorite for a long time for the Texas product. Anderson took official visits to Texas and LSU before visiting the Rebels, officially, last weekend. It’s pretty rare to see no drama around a highly recruiting prospect, but Anderson has been an Ole Miss lean for a while. The Rebels have to feel good about where they sit.

Anderson can be an immediate impact player that can provide some depth at safety. Ole Miss has taken a hit at safety over the past two seasons, so there will be early playing time opportunities for Anderson.

Prediction: Ole Miss

Four-star cornerback Shyheim Carter

My thought process has been that Ole Miss and Alabama would each get one prospect between Carter and fellow four-star cornerback Nigel Knott. The Crimson Tide got a pledge from Knott on Monday, so that is good news for Ole Miss in regard to Carter. The Rebels have to feel good about their position.

Carter was Ole Miss’ top priority at cornerback, and he’ll battle for playing time in Year 1. The Rebels do return a few guys who racked up a ton of snaps at corner in 2015, but as teams begin passing the ball more, teams can never have too many corners.

Prediction: Ole Miss

Four-star defensive end Terrell Hall

Ole Miss has done all it can to try to land Hall, but the Rebels appear to be behind in the race for his signature. Alabama appears to be the favorite, but Maryland has done a terrific job in trying to get the elite defensive end to stay close to home.

Hall is another player who would compete for playing time immediately, and Ole Miss would love to add him to this class. However, it seems like the race is really between the Crimson Tide and the Terrapins.

Prediction: Alabama

Four-star defensive end Jonathan Kongbo

This could be the big fish that surprises a lot of people around the country. Ole Miss has been in the game for Kongbo’s signature for quite some time, but Tennessee has long been the favorite. Kongbo even committed to the Vols previously, but when he opened things back up in early January, the Rebels took advantage.

Now, it looks like Ole Miss, Tennessee and Florida State are the biggest threats to land Kongbo. The nation’s top junior college prospect will be another guy who can step in and compete for immediate playing time.

Prediction: Ole Miss

Four-star wide receiver A.J. Brown

If you’re looking for drama, look no further than Brown’s announcement. Ole Miss has a ton of momentum right now, and Alabama is also in the thick of it. However, you can never count out Mississippi State for a kid who lives in Starkville, Miss.

Brown is a physical outside threat, who can be a go-to receiver at the collegiate level. He’s mentioned that former Ole Miss wide receiver Laquon Treadwell is who he models himself after if that gives you any indication to what type of receiver he is. Brown has all the tools to be an all-SEC type player.

Prediction: Ole Miss

Four-star defensive tackle Kobe Jones

As is the case with Brown, there’s potential for a ton of drama surrounding Jones. The Starkville, Miss., native took five official visits over the past two weeks, so there’s plenty of schools in the running. Mississippi State has to be considered the favorite, but Alabama, Miami, Missouri and Ole Miss are looming.

Jones is an interior defensive lineman who is really athletic but probably needs to add some weight before he’s a major contributor in the SEC. At 6-foot-4, 265 pounds, he has a frame that can take some added weight, but he certainly has a high ceiling.

Prediction: Mississippi State

Four-star tight end Jacob Mathis

Ole Miss has constantly been in the game for Mathis, but the Rebels emerged as the favorite following his official visit last weekend. Mathis would be the third tight end in Ole Miss’ recruiting class, although Mathis and four-star Gabe Angel have the athletic ability to get a look at a different position.

Florida was considered the favorite early on, but Alabama, Michigan and Stanford have also been hanging around. Nevertheless, the Rebels feel confident following last weekend’s visit.

Prediction: Ole Miss

Four-star wide receiver Mykel Jones

Another candidate for drama on signing day is with Jones. He was considered a heavy Ole Miss lean this time last week, but when four-star wide receiver Tre Nixon committed to the Rebels and Ole Miss caught the momentum for A.J. Brown, Jones seemed to get lost in a numbers crunch. He skipped out on his official visit last weekend and visited Oklahoma instead.

Alabama and Tennessee also remain in the running, but my guess is that Jones ends up at either Ole Miss or Alabama (whoever doesn’t land A.J. Brown).

Prediction: Alabama

Three-star defensive end Marcel Southall

Ole Miss got a visit from Southall last weekend, but the Rebels don’t appear the likely destination for the Duncanville, Texas, native. Miami, Oklahoma, Texas and TCU also are in the running.

The Sooners appear to have the edge for the 6-foot-2, 285-pounder, but the Longhorns have also gained some momentum this week. At his size, Southall could contend for early playing time wherever he ends up.